National Adoption Month

I did not want this month to pass by without writing a post in honor of November being National Adoption Month.  It still feels almost unreal that we are nearing the end of this process, that we ever even began this process.  Our adoption is very different from what I envisioned adoption in general being, before we began this journey.  Adoption is hard.  Plain and simple.  It's scary and at times painful.  It requires sacrifice and immense patience.  It's humbling and at times heart wrenching.  Like anything of great value in this life, it is worth all of it.  It changes the way you see the world.  We have seen so much good come from this experience, so much love and support from those around us and even complete strangers.  They have helped to lift us up when things got hard.  Kind words, letters in the mail with sweet notes and donations, neighbor children selling candy after school and bringing us their profits because they want Victoria home so they can play with her.  So humbling.  It has increased our desire to give of ourselves, our means and our love to other because of the beautiful examples we have seen step forward to help us.  We are not the only ones sacrificing to bring this little girl home.  So many of you are helping to make this all possible and we will forever be indebted to you for your contributions.   Thank you for your kindness, thank you for your love.  Adoption truly is love, a kind of love we had never experienced until now.  A love that reminds us that we are all God's children and that he loves each of us, no matter our circumstance.  I see him smiling down on us when we work together to make wonderful things happen in the lives of his children.  I feel privileged to be on this journey.

If anyone reading this is considering undertaking adoption of this kind, my advice would be to remember that you will not be alone.  There are so many people out there that will step forward and support you if you give them a chance.  People want to help, the just need to be given the opportunity.  Let God lead you through this process and trust that he will not leave you alone in such an endeavor.  I know we will need his help even more once we get Victoria home, to help us all transition in our new life together, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he will help us through it.  No, adoption is not easy, I knew it wouldn't be, and it is even harder than I thought it would be, but it is even more rewarding than I could have imagined.  It has forever changed me for the better, it has taught me eternal lessons that I would have missed out on if I pushed away the promptings I had almost a year ago.

When I wake up we will be heading out on our third trip to Victoria's country.  We will go before the judge again and pray that all is in order for our hearing to proceed and that we can finally plead our case for adopting this precious little girl.  We would love if you will join us in prayer that all will go smoothly.  Can't wait to see Victoria again, watch the video below and you will see why, she is amazing.